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Biomedical subjects

J Khoury

Publications and source records attributed to J Khoury.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

Lack of effect of sleep on energy expenditure and physiologic measures in critically ill burn patients.

OBJECTIVE: Energy expenditure measurements, performed while patients are in standardized resting conditions, are often used as an indicator of care by which to evaluate the adequacy of nutrition support regimens. Little attention has been directed toward examining potential errors incurred by deriving daily energy needs based on a single 15- to 20-minute measurement. This study was designed to differentiate energy expenditure during periods of sleep (defined as time spent in any of the standard sleep stages) and wakefulness in pediatric burn patients. DESIGN: Twenty-four-hour indirect calorimetry, polysomnography, and physiologic assessments (mean arterial pressure, heart rate, body temperature, oxygen saturation, and respiratory rate) were conducted simultaneously in 14 patients, who were thermally injured and tracheally intubated, for a total of 45 24-hour intervals. SUBJECTS: Mean age of the patients was 10.8+/-1.2 years. Mean total body surface area of the injury was 55.7+/-4.7%, and mean full-thickness burn was 48.8+/-6.0%. STATISTICAL ANALYSES PERFORMED: A nested general linear analysis of variance model was used to evaluate the association between sleep, wakefulness, and energy needs; adjustments were made for postburn day and multiple test runs per patient. RESULTS: On average, subjects slept 699+/-46 minutes/day. They experienced a large number of awakenings from sleep (mean=53+/-6.3 awakenings per 24 hours). Patients had mean energy expenditure of 2,529+/-396 kcal/day while awake and 2,360+/-291 kcal/day while asleep, and these mean values did not differ significantly. No differences in physiologic measurements during the awake and sleep states were found. APPLICATIONS: There appears to be little difference in the metabolism of seriously injured burn patients while asleep and while awake. The study deemphasizes the importance of performing indirect calorimetry at rest in critically ill pediatric burn patients, and it supports the extrapolation of daily energy expenditure from a 15- to 20-minute steady-state measurement obtained during either sleep or wakefulness.

Adolescent↗

Early hemorrhage growth in patients with intracerebral hemorrhage.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The goal of the present study was to prospectively determine how frequently early growth of intracerebral hemorrhage occurs and whether this early growth is related to early neurological deterioration. METHODS: We performed a prospective observational study of patients with intracerebral hemorrhage within 3 hours of onset. Patients had a neurological evaluation and CT scan performed at baseline, 1 hour after baseline, and 20 hours after baseline. RESULTS: Substantial growth in the volume of parenchymal hemorrhage occurred in 26% of the 103 study patients between the baseline and 1-hour CT scans. An additional 12% of patients had substantial growth between the 1- and 20-hour CT scans. Hemorrhage growth between the baseline and 1-hour CT scans was significantly associated with clinical deterioration, as measured by the change between the baseline and 1-hour Glasgow Coma Scale and National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale scores. No baseline clinical or CT prediction of hemorrhage growth was identified. CONCLUSIONS: Substantial early hemorrhage growth in patients with intracerebral hemorrhage is common and is associated with neurological deterioration. Randomized treatment trials are needed to determine whether this early natural history of ongoing bleeding and frequent neurological deterioration can be improved.

Adult↗

Patients' awareness of stroke signs, symptoms, and risk factors.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: We sought to determine knowledge at the time of symptom onset regarding the signs, symptoms, and risk factors of stroke in patients presenting to the emergency department with potential stroke. METHODS: Patients admitted from the emergency department with possible stroke were identified prospectively. A standardized, structured interview with open-ended questions was performed within 48 hours of symptom onset to assess patients' knowledge base concerning stroke signs, symptoms, and risk factors. RESULTS: Of the 174 eligible patients, 163 patients were able to respond to the interview questions. Of these 163 patients, 39% (63) did not know a single sign or symptom of stroke. Unilateral weakness (26%) and numbness (22%) were the most frequently noted symptoms. Patients aged > or = 65 years were less likely to know a sign or symptom of stroke than those aged < 65 years (percentage not knowing a single sign or symptom, 47% versus 28%, P = .016). Similarly, 43% of patients did not know a single risk factor for stroke. The elderly were less likely to know a risk factor than their younger counterparts. CONCLUSIONS: Almost 40% of patients admitted with a possible stroke did not know the signs, symptoms, or risk factor of a stroke. Further public education is needed to increase awareness of the warning signs and risk factors of stroke.

Aged↗

Ragweed immunotherapy in adult asthma.

BACKGROUND: Although allergen immunotherapy is effective for allergic rhinitis, its role in treating asthma is unclear. METHODS: We examined the efficacy of immunotherapy for asthma exacerbated by seasonal ragweed exposure. During an observation phase, adults with asthma who were sensitive to ragweed kept daily diaries and recorded peak expiratory flow rates between July and October. Those who reported seasonal asthma symptoms and medication use as well as decreased peak expiratory flow were randomly assigned to receive placebo or ragweed-extract immunotherapy in doses that increased weekly for an additional two years. RESULTS: During the observation phase, the mean (+/- SE) peak expiratory flow rate measured in the morning during the three weeks representing the height of the pollination season was 454 +/- 20 liters per minute in the immunotherapy group and 444 +/- 16 liters per minute in the placebo group. Of the 77 patients who began the treatment phase, 64 completed one year of the study treatment and 53 completed two years. During the two treatment years, the mean peak expiratory flow rate was higher in the immunotherapy group (489 +/- 16 liters per minute, vs. 453 +/- 17 in the placebo group [P = 0.06] during the first year, and 480 +/- 12 liters per minute, vs. 461 +/- 13 in the placebo group [P = 0.03] during the second). Medication use was higher in the immunotherapy group than in the placebo group during observation and lower during the first treatment year (P = 0.01) but did not differ in the two groups during the second year (P = 0.7). Asthma-symptom scores were similar in the two groups (P = 0.08 in year 1 and P = 0.3 in year 2). The immunotherapy group had reduced hay-fever symptoms, skin-test sensitivity to ragweed, and sensitivity to bronchial challenges and increased IgG antibodies to ragweed as compared with the placebo group; there was no longer a seasonal increase in IgE antibodies to ragweed allergen in the immunotherapy group after two years of treatment. Reduced medication costs were counterbalanced by the costs of immunotherapy. CONCLUSIONS: Although immunotherapy for adults with asthma exacerbated by seasonal ragweed exposure had positive effects on objective measures of asthma and allergy, the clinical effects were limited and many were not sustained for two years.

Adult↗

Evaluation of predicted and measured energy requirements in burned children.

OBJECTIVE: The energy predictions of nine calculations for pediatric patients were compared with measured resting energy expenditure (MREE) by means of indirect calorimetry to determine the optimal means of energy projection in the burn population younger than 3 years of age. METHODOLOGY: Nutritional sufficiency and maintenance of preburn weight were factors in the confirmation of energy needs. Demographic factors were also studied: preburn weight, percent burn, percent third-degree burn, and age. Group 1 consisted of 24 patients younger than 3 years of age (range = 7 months to 2.6 years) with a percent burn of 30.6 +/- 2.0 and percent third-degree burn of 21.9 +/- 2.6. Group 2, consisting of 24 patients 5 to 10 years old matched by percent burn and percent third-degree burn, was included to determine whether differences between actual and projected needs were evident in older, prepubescent patients. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: Analysis of variance was used to ascertain the most reliable multiplier for MREE needed to maintain at least 95% of preburn weight at discharge while ensuring adequate nutrition. Multiple regression analysis was used to determine the relationship between energy requirement and body weight, percent burn, and age. RESULTS: An additional 30% of MREE provided a consistent ratio of actual energy intake to required intake. MREE x 1.3 was used as a guide to study the existing calculations. For both groups, the four equations that predicted energy in healthy children most often underestimated MREE x 1.3, whereas the five formulas for children with burns tended to overpredict energy. Regression analysis yielded two new sets of equations using age, preburn weight, and percent burn (< 3 years = Mayes 1 [r2 = .71], 5 to 10 years = Mayes 3 [r2 = 70] or percent third-degree burn (< 3 years = Mayes 2 [r2 = .68], 5 to 10 years = Mayes 4 [r2 = .67]). CONCLUSIONS: The application of a 30% factor to MREE is supported in burn patients younger than 10 years of age. Standard energy projections do not provide an accurate assessment of energy needs in the pediatric burn population; thus, two sets of equations that more closely predict energy needs are proposed.

Analysis of Variance↗

Premature luteinization during controlled ovarian hyperstimulation for in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer has no impact on pregnancy outcome.

OBJECTIVE: To determine if elevated serum P concentration on the day of hCG administration or P area under the curve (AUC) impacts on pregnancy rates (PRs) in IVF-ET cycles. DESIGN: Retrospective study. PATIENT(S): One hundred thirty-three couples underwent IVF-ET using luteal GnRH-agonist suppression followed by hyperstimulation with gonadotropins. Patient cycles were controlled for female age, ovarian reserve, male factor with intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), endometrial thickness and pattern, number of embryos, and number of high-quality embryos transferred, and cell stage at transfer. Pregnancy was defined as an ongoing pregnancy > 20 weeks. RESULT(S): Patients and cycle parameters did not differ significantly based on the control parameters. Similar numbers of severe male factors treated by ICSI were in each group with similar PRs. Pregnancy rates and implantation rates did not differ based on P levels < or = 0.9, < or = 1.1, and < or = 1.4 ng/mL (conversion factor to SI unit, 3.18). Serum P concentrations per total eggs retrieved or per mature egg retrieved did not influence pregnancy outcome. Efficiency curves for serum P levels and P AUC did not demonstrate any differences in PR. At very high serum P (P > 2.0 ng/mL) samples size limits the ability of these data to rule out a negative effect. CONCLUSION(S): Serum P levels (and P AUC) commonly encountered during cycles of IVF-ET have no impact on pregnancy outcome.

Adult↗

Volumetric measurement of multifocal brain lesions. Implications for treatment trials of vascular dementia and multiple sclerosis.

This pilot study examined the reproducibility of serial magnetic resonance (MR) measurements of brain, ventricular, sulcal, and lesion volumes in patients with ischemic brain disease using an image analysis protocol designed at the University of Cincinnati. Five patients with a clinical history of brain ischemia had two separate MR brain imaging studies using the standard clinical MR imaging protocol at the University of Cincinnati Medical Center. The MR images on both film and tape were digitized and then analyzed according to the standardized image analysis protocol. Based on tape data, variability in volume measurements between the two MR studies, as measured by the coefficient of variation, ranged from 1% for intracranial volume to 8% for ventricular volume. Variability based on film data was slightly greater, ranging from 2% for intracranial volume to 12% for lesion volume. As part of a multicenter treatment trial of vascular dementia, this method was then used to analyze MR films in 13 patients with vascular dementia who all had an MR study at baseline and at 1 year. The mean annual change in lesion volume was 4 +/- 5 cm3 (a 24% increase from the baseline lesion volume); in ventricular volume, 7 +/- 8 cm3 (a 10% increase from baseline); and in sulcal volume, 13 +/- 25 cm3 (a 5% increase from baseline). This method of image analysis, using MR film or tape-generated data, can provide reproducible serial measurements of brain, ventricular, sulcal, and ischemic lesion volumes. This method, if applied in randomized treatment trials of vascular dementia or multiple sclerosis, can be used to monitor disease progression and to evaluate the effectiveness of a given therapy.

Aspirin↗

Platelet-activating factor stimulates lung pericyte growth in vitro.

Platelet-activating factor (PAF) is released from activated leukocytes and endothelial cells in sepsis, lung injury, and the adult respiratory distress syndrome. With these disorders, pulmonary hypertension develops, partly due to muscularization of the microvasculature by proliferation of pericytes. PAF may be a mediator of this process. Therefore, we examined the effects of PAF on in vitro growth of rat lung pericytes. Compared with control growth, semisynthetic PAF (10(-9) M) stimulated the 7-day mean growth of proliferating pericytes by 31% in medium with serum and 29% without serum and of previously growth-arrested pericytes by 12% with serum and 23% without serum. These effects were blocked by the PAF-receptor blocker CV-3988. PAF also increased [3H]thymidine incorporation into pericytes by 79%. Synthetic 16:0 PAF stimulated pericyte growth, but 18:0 PAF did not. PAF exposure did not induce apoptosis in pericytes. Thus PAF compounds, similar to those found in vivo, stimulate lung pericyte growth in vitro. PAF may act as a direct cytokine on cells involved in muscularization of the pulmonary vessel walls.

Animals↗

The ABCs of measuring intracerebral hemorrhage volumes.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Hemorrhage volume is a powerful predictor of 30-day mortality after spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH). We compared a bedside method of measuring CT ICH volume with measurements made by computer-assisted planimetric image analysis. METHODS: The formula ABC/2 was used, where A is the greatest hemorrhage diameter by CT, B is the diameter 90 degrees to A, and C is the approximate number of CT slices with hemorrhage multiplied by the slice thickness. RESULTS: The ICH volumes for 118 patients were evaluated in a mean of 38 seconds and correlated with planimetric measurements (R2 = 9.6). Interrater and intrarater reliability were excellent, with an intraclass correlation of .99 for both. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that ICH volume can be accurately estimated in less than 1 minute with the simple formula ABC/2.

Blood Volume↗

Prognostic value of the hyperdense middle cerebral artery sign and stroke scale score before ultraearly thrombolytic therapy.

PURPOSE: To determine the relationship between the hyperdense middle cerebral artery sign (HMCAS) and neurologic deficit, as evidenced by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) stroke scale score, and to determine the relationship of the HMCAS and the NIH stroke scale score to arteriographic findings after thrombolytic therapy. METHODS: Fifty-five patients with acute ischemic stroke were rated on the NIH stroke scale, were examined with CT, and were treated with intravenous alteplase within 90 minutes of symptom onset. Presence of the HMCAS was determined on the baseline CT scan by a neuroradiologist blinded to the patient's neurologic deficit. Patients with the HMCAS were compared with those without HMCAS with regard to baseline NIH stroke scale score, 2-hour NIH stroke scale score, findings at posttreatment arteriography, 3-month residual neurologic deficit, and 3-month ischemia volumes as evidenced on CT scans. RESULTS: Eighteen patients (33%) had the HMCAS. These patients had a median baseline NIH stroke scale score of 19.5 compared with a median score of 10 for the patients lacking the HMCAS sign. At 3 months, one (6%) of the HMCAS-positive patients was completely improved neurologically compared with 17 (47%) of the HMCAS-negative patients. Restricting analysis to those patients with a stroke scale score of 10 or greater (n = 37), 18 HMCAS-positive patients showed less early neurologic improvement, were less likely to be completely improved at 3 months, and had larger infarcts compared with the 19 HMCAS-negative patients. Compared with the HMCAS-positive and HMCAS-negative patients with a stroke scale score of 10 or greater, patients with a stroke scale score of less than 10 had fewer occlusive changes of the internal carotid and middle cerebral arteries on posttreatment arteriograms and had a better neurologic recovery at 3 months. CONCLUSION: The presence of the HMCAS on CT scans obtained within 90 minutes of stroke onset is associated with a major neurologic deficit, and in this study it predicted a poor clinical and radiologic outcome after intravenous thrombolytic therapy. However, a major neurologic deficit, defined as a stroke scale score of 10 or more, was better than a positive HMCAS as a predictor of poor neurologic outcome after thrombolytic therapy. Patients with a low stroke scale score (< 10) may benefit from ultraearly intravenous alteplase therapy.

Adult↗

Decreased platelet counts in infants of diabetic mothers.

Infants of diabetic mothers (IDMs) have hematologic indices consistent with increased fetal erythropoiesis, presumably in response to chronic intrauterine hypoxemia. We hypothesized that increased erythropoiesis, as is evident from increased nucleated erythrocyte counts, would be accompanied by interrelated changes in thrombopoiesis and would correlate with maternal glycemic control during pregnancy. We compared absolute nucleated erythrocyte counts and platelet counts obtained in the first 24 hours of life in 32 term, nonasphyxiated IDMs with 47 controls. The IDM group had higher absolute nucleated erythrocyte counts (1.0 +/- 1.3 x 10(9)/L versus 0.4 +/- 0.7 x 10(9)/L; p < 0.05), and lower platelet counts (235 +/- 77 x 10(9)/L versus 348 +/- 79 x 10(9)/L; p < 0.001) than controls. Absolute nucleated erythrocyte counts correlated inversely with platelet counts (r = -0.28; p < 0.02). These neonatal hematologic measurements did not correlate with various parameters of maternal glycemic control. We conclude that in IDMs, increased erythropoiesis is accompanied by decreased platelet counts. These data are consistent with the theory of an erythropoietin-induced shift of fetal multipotent stem cell differentiation toward erythropoiesis at the expense of thrombopoiesis.

Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1↗

Comparative responses of genetically lean and fat chickens to lysine, arginine and non-essential amino acid supply. I. Growth and body composition.

1. Three experiments were performed to study the effects of amino acid imbalance on the growth of genetically lean (LL) or fat (FL) male chickens from 28 to 42 d of age. In experiment 1, five concentrations of digestible lysine were compared (4.75, 6.75, 7.75, 8.75 and 9.75 g/kg). In experiment 2, four concentrations of digestible arginine were compared (6.53, 7.69, 8.84 and 10.0 g/kg). In experiment 3, three diets were compared: a high-protein diet (189 g CP/kg), a low-protein diet containing added essential amino acids (EAA) (144 g CP/kg) and this low-protein diet supplemented with 40 g/kg of non-essential amino acids (NEAA) (glutamic acid+aspartic acid). 2. LL birds exhibited a lower growth rate than the FL when the diet was deficient in either lysine or arginine. Plotting weight gain against lysine or arginine intake suggested that most of this effect was caused by variations in food intake. 3. When protein gains (body or total proteins) were plotted against lysine or arginine intake, LL chickens appeared more efficient than FL chickens. 4. Similar growth rates, although slightly lower in FL, were obtained with low- and high-protein diets. However, NEAA supplementation of the low-protein diet reduced adiposity of LL and did not modify that of FL. Increasing crude protein content (all amino acids) was more effective than NEAA supplementation in decreasing the adiposity of both lines.

Amino Acids↗

Impact of metabolic control of diabetes during pregnancy on neonatal hypocalcemia: a randomized study.

OBJECTIVE: To test the hypothesis that strict control of diabetes during pregnancy can reduce the risk for neonatal hypocalcemia in infants of diabetic mothers. METHODS: One hundred thirty-seven pregnant women with insulin-dependent diabetes enrolled before 9 weeks' gestation were randomized to one of two treatment groups. In 68 subjects, the goals were fasting blood glucose level less than 4.44 mmol/L (80 mg/dL) and 1.5-hour postprandial blood glucose level less than 6.66 mmol/L (120 mg/dL) (strict control), whereas in 69 the goals were fasting blood glucose level less than 5.55 mmol/L (100 mg/dL) and 1.5-hour post-prandial glucose level less than 7.77 mmol/L (140 mg/dL) (customary control). RESULTS: Infants in the strict control group had a significantly lower rate of hypocalcemia (mean calcium less than 8.0 mg/dL in term infants and less than 7.0 mg/dL in preterm infants) than infants in the customary control group (17.6 versus 31.9%; P < .05). Using logistic regression analysis and after adjusting for the effects of gestational age, asphyxia, and White class on hypocalcemia, the difference between groups remained significant. The lowest infant serum calcium concentration correlated significantly with maternal glycohemoglobin A1 concentration at delivery (P = .03), gestational age (P = .0001), and the lowest serum magnesium concentration (P = .0001). CONCLUSION: Strict management of diabetes in pregnancy is associated with a reduction in the rate of neonatal hypocalcemia.

Adult↗

Glycemic thresholds for spontaneous abortion and congenital malformations in insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus.

OBJECTIVE: To test the hypothesis that women with insulin-dependent (type I) diabetes have a threshold of glycemic control in early pregnancy for increased risks of spontaneous abortion and congenital malformations. METHODS: Receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curves were formed for the occurrence of abortion and malformations as a function of the median first-trimester preprandial blood glucose concentration and the first measured glycohemoglobin concentration in pregnant women with type I diabetes. RESULTS: Fifty-two of the 215 women (24%) who enrolled before 9 weeks' gestation had spontaneous abortions. Six percent of the women enrolled before 14 weeks had infants with major congenital malformations. Thresholds for an increased risk of abortion and malformations were a median first-trimester blood glucose concentration of 120-130 mg/dL or an initial glycohemoglobin concentration of 12-13% (6.2-7.5 standard deviations above the normal mean). CONCLUSIONS: Type I diabetic women with initial glycohemoglobin concentrations in pregnancy above 12% or median first-trimester preprandial glucose concentrations above 120 mg/dL have an increased risk of abortion and malformations. Below these glycemic thresholds, the risks are comparable to those in nondiabetic women.

Abortion, Spontaneous↗

Poor glycemic control and antepartum obstetric complications in women with insulin-dependent diabetes.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to test the hypothesis that the rate of complications of pregnancy in women with insulin-dependent diabetes is higher than in nondiabetic women and is associated with poor glycemic control and microvascular disease. METHOD: Women who enrolled in a multidisciplinary program of diabetes in pregnancy prior to 20 weeks' gestation were included in the study and matched 1:2 by age, race and parity to a control group of nondiabetic women. Complications of pregnancy were retrospectively analyzed and compared between groups. The association of complications with glycemic control and microvascular disease was analyzed within the diabetic group. RESULT: Women with diabetes had significantly higher rates of pregnancy-induced hypertension (PIH), polyhydramnios, pyelonephritis, preterm delivery and meconium-stained amniotic fluid. Poor glycemic control, particularly during the first and second trimesters of pregnancy, was associated with all complications, except pyelonephritis. Microvascular disease was associated with PIH and preterm delivery prior to 34 weeks. CONCLUSION: Women with insulin-dependent diabetes are at high risk for complications of pregnancy. Glycemic control during the first and second trimesters may affect events later in pregnancy.

Blood Glucose↗